Fast-fit device for fastening a mat to a carpet fixed to the floor of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

The fastening device has first and second fastening means fittable to the carpet and to the mat and which click together. The first fastening means are defined by a single part having two flanges integral with a hub and which are positioned on opposite sides of the carpet; and one of the flanges is shaped to permit passage through a hole in the carpet by rotating the single part. The second fastening means have a further two flanges integral with two corresponding hubs which fit together in a variable axial position through a hole in the mat to adapt the distance between the further two flanges to the thickness of the mat. The single part carries a male member which clicks inside an elastic female member carried by one of the flanges fitted to the mat.

[0001] The present invention relates to a fast-fit device for fastening a mat to a carpet fixed to the passenger compartment floor of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The passenger compartment floor of vehicles, in particular cars, is normally carpeted, and, being subjected to hard wear, the carpet is normally covered with an easy-change mat of synthetic material. When simply placed on top of the carpet with no provision for preventing it from slipping, the mat not only fails to adequately protect the carpet, but is also a source of annoyance to the user.

[0003] Various mat fastening devices for preventing the mat from slipping with respect to the carpet are known, and which normally comprise a fairly large number of parts made of plastic material and fitted partly to the carpet and partly to the mat. Such known devices involve several drawbacks.

[0004] In particular, being fairly complicated, the parts fitted to the carpet and the mat call for high-cost molds and are not normally suitable for automated assembly; the devices are relatively expensive to produce, also on account of the large number of parts involved; and fitting the parts to the carpet and the mat and then connecting the parts together are fairly complicated time-consuming operations requiring skilled personnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide a highly straightforward, low-cost fast-fit device for fastening a mat to a carpet, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks typically associated with known devices.

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a fast-fit device for fastening a mat to a carpet fixed to the passenger compartment floor of a vehicle; the device comprising first fastening means fittable to said carpet, and second fastening means fittable to said mat; and being characterized in that said first and second fastening means click together.

[0007] More specifically, the first fastening means are defined by a single part having two flanges integral with a hub and positioned on opposite sides of said carpet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 shows an exploded view in perspective of a device for fastening a mat to a vehicle carpet in accordance with the invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 shows a vertical mid-section of the FIG. 1 device with the mat detached from the carpet;

[0011]FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of a FIG. 1 detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Number 5 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a device for fastening a mat 6 to a carpet 7 fixed in known manner to the passenger compartment floor of a vehicle, e.g. a car. Carpet 7 is of predetermined thickness and made of relatively soft synthetic or natural fibers. Mat 6 is easily replaceable, is made of relatively compact fibrous or flexible plastic material, and may vary in thickness to some extent, e.g. according to the material of which it is made.

[0013] Device 5 comprises first fastening means 8 fittable to carpet 7; and second fastening means 9 fittable to mat 6. According to the invention, fastening means 8 and 9 click together. Carpet 7 has a hole 11 of a predetermined diameter and to which fastening means 8 are fitted; and mat 6 has another hole 12 larger in diameter than hole 11 and to which fastening means 9 are fitted.

[0014] Mat 6 obviously has several holes 12, normally at the corners of mat 6; and carpet 7 obviously has the same number of holes 11 located accordingly. A respective fastening device 5 is therefore provided for each pair of holes 11, 12. Fastening means 8 and 9 of each device 5 comprise two parts 13 and 14 made of plastic material and formed in one piece with respective portions 16 and 17 which click together. As shown more clearly later on, portion 16 defines a male connecting member, and portion 17 a female connecting member.

[0015] More specifically, first fastening means 8 are defined by said single part 13, which comprises two flanges 18 and 19 (see also FIGS. 2 and 3) integral with a substantially cylindrical hub 21 of the same diameter as hole 11. Flanges 18 and 19 are positioned on opposite sides of carpet 7, and, to fit through hole 11, flange 18 is substantially circular and has a diameter larger than and preferably twice that of hole 11.

[0016] Flange 18 has a substantially sector-shaped recess or slot 22 having two sides 23 and 24 forming a substantially right angle, and which enables flange 18 to be fitted through hole 11 by rotating part 13. A portion 26, adjacent to side 23, of flange 18 is cam-shaped and increases in diameter, with respect to the diameter of the rest of flange 18, towards side 23 to increase the grip of flange 18 on the surface of carpet 7.

[0017] Side 23 of slot 22 is substantially radial, whereas the other side 24 of slot 22 lies in an ideal secant plane 27 of hub 21. Hub 21 has a flat portion 28 along secant plane 27 and which, by virtue of the yield of carpet 7, prevents hub 21, and hence part 13, from rotating with respect to hole 11.

[0018] The other flange 19 of part 13 is also circular but larger in diameter than flange 18. Flange 18 is positioned on the underside of carpet 7, while flange 19 is positioned on the topside of carpet 7 and is integral with portion or male connecting member 16. Member 16 is defined by a stem 29 coaxial with hub 21 and having, on top, a substantially hemispherical knob 31 slightly larger in diameter than stem 29. In actual fact, knob 31 is more than hemispherical, so that a reasonable amount of pull releases the click-on connection to female member 17.

[0019] Flange 19 has two diametrically opposite recesses or slots 32, each with two sides 33 and 34 at 90° to each other, so that flange 19 is butterfly-shaped. Sides 33 of the two slots 32 are parallel, and each have a rib 36. The two ribs 36 are diametrically opposite and are engaged by a tool to insert flange 18 through hole 11 by rotating part 13.

[0020] Preferably, the thickness of flange 19 (FIG. 1) decreases outwards, while rib 36 is of constant thickness equal to that of the central portion of flange 19. Sides 34 of the two slots 32 are offset with respect to a radial plane 37 and form two portions 38 which increase the surface of flange 19 contacting carpet 7. Side 24 partly faces the inside of one of slots 32 (FIG. 3).

[0021] In addition to part 14, fastening means 9 of mat 6 also comprise another part 39. The two parts of fastening means 9 are defined by a further two flanges 14, 39, which are substantially circular, are of the same diameter, and have respective appendixes defined by two hollow hubs 41 and 42 which fit together irreversibly through hole 12 in mat 6 so that flanges 14 and 39 are positioned on opposite sides of mat 6.

[0022] Hub 42 has a smooth outer surface of substantially the same diameter as hole 12 in mat 6. Hubs 41 and 42 are coaxial and fit together in varying axial positions to adapt the distance between flanges 14 and 39 to the thickness of mat 6. More specifically, the cylindrical outer surface of hub 41 has serrated teeth 43; and the inner surface of hub 42 has one triangular-section tooth 44 for engaging any one of the gaps between teeth 43.

[0023] Flange 14 is positioned on the outer side of mat 6 and has a smooth unbroken outer surface; flange 39 is positioned on the inner side of mat 6; flange 14 carries female connecting member 17, which is defined by a sleeve 45 coaxial with hub 41; sleeve 45 has two axial slots 46 forming two elastic portions 47 of sleeve 45; and the inner surfaces of the two portions 47 have a truncated-cone-shaped lead-in portion 48, an annular trapezoidal-section rib 49, and a seat 51 into which knob 31 of male member 16 clicks.

[0024] Hub 41 also has two axial slots 52 forming two cylindrical sectors 53 which are therefore slightly elastic; hub 42 of flange 39 is defined by two cylindrical sectors 54 associated with sectors 53 and separated by two gaps 56; the two ends of each sector 54 each have a stop member in the form of a tab 57 perpendicular to flange 39; and the two tabs 57 facing each gap 56 are parallel to each other.

[0025] Each sector 53 of hub 41 fits, with a small amount of circumferential slack, between the two tabs 57 of the corresponding sector 54 of hub 42, so that, in use, tabs 57 limit rotation of flange 14 with respect to flange 39.

[0026] Flange 39 has a central hole 58 through which sleeve 45 fits, and which is of such a diameter as to enable the two elastic portions 47 to fit through freely when flanges 14 and 39 are fastened the minimum distance apart as shown in FIG. 2. Flange 39 also has two arc-shaped openings 59 (only one shown in FIG. 1) which are associated with sectors 54 of hub 42, are each located between the respective two tabs 57, and enable sectors 53 of hub 41 to fit through freely when flanges 14 and 39 are fastened as shown in FIG. 2.

[0027] Finally, the surface of flange 14 eventually contacting the upper surface of mat 6 has two diametrically opposite groups of six projections 61. Similarly, the surface of flange 39 eventually contacting the lower surface of mat 6 has a further two diametrically opposite groups of six projections 62. The groups of projections 62 on flange 39 are offset angularly, e.g. by 90°, with respect to the groups of projections 61 on flange 14; and, in use, projections 61 and 62 engage and deform the surfaces of mat 6 to prevent any movement of flanges 14 and 39 with respect to the mat.

[0028] Fastening device 5 may be used for fitting mat 6 either on-line at the vehicle assembly stage or as an add-on to existing vehicles. In the first case, part 13 and parts or flanges 14 and 39 may be fed by appropriate automatic feeders to an assembly robot; and each part 13, 14, 39 can be aligned automatically on the respective loader by virtue of various radial locating elements, such as sides 33 and 34 of slot 32 on flange 19 of part 13, slots 52 on part 14, and tabs 57 on part 39.

[0029] Mat 6, possibly complete with holes 12, may also be supplied in the form of a kit, together with sets of parts 13, 14, 39, for add-on assembly to existing vehicles. For first-time assembly of mat 6 to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, holes 11 are first formed in known manner in carpet 7, in positions corresponding to holes 12 in mat 6. Using an appropriate tool, ribs 36 on part 13 are then engaged and flange 18 rotated through respective hole 11, commencing with cam portion 26. Alternatively, carpet 7 may already be complete with holes 11 with respective parts 13 already inserted. In which case, the kit may simply comprise mat 6 and the pairs of parts 14, 39 to fit inside holes 12.

[0030] Whichever the case, hub 42 on part 39 is inserted inside a respective hole 12 in mat 6; each of the two sectors 53 of hub 41 is inserted between the two tabs 57 of a respective sector 54 of hub 42; and parts 14 and 39 are pressed together so that tooth 44 engages one of the gaps between teeth 43, and projections 61 and 62 sink into the thickness of mat 6, so that parts 14 and 39 are connected firmly to each other and to mat 6.

[0031] Once pairs of parts 14, 39 are all fitted to mat 6, the mat can be fitted quickly to carpet 7 by placing each female member 17 on top of the corresponding male member 16 and pressing down respective flange 14. To replace a worn mat 6, the mat can be detached quickly from carpet 7 by pulling out each flange 14 to detach female member 17 from the corresponding male member 16.

[0032] The advantages, as compared with known devices, of the fast-fit fastening device 5 according to the invention will be clear from the foregoing description. In particular, only a very small number of parts 13, 14, 39 are required; parts 13, 14, 39 are of simple design and can therefore be injection molded using low-cost molds; parts 13, 14, 39 are also designed to enable automatic robot assembly; and device 5 provides for fitting mat 6 quickly with substantially no special tools required.

[0033] Clearly, changes may be made to the fastening device as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the accompanying Claims. For example, in part 13, slot 22 may be sized differently and/or flat portion 28 of hub 21 may be eliminated; and ribs 36 may differ in number, may be arranged in any angular position, and may even be replaced with two projections or two depressions. Hubs 41 and 42 of flanges 14 and 39 may have different numbers of axial slots 52 and gaps 56. And finally, the inner surface of sectors 54 of hub 42 may be provided with teeth, sectors 53 of hub 41 may be provided with only one tooth or with teeth 43, and the male and female members may be inverted. 

1. A fast-fit device for fastening a mat (6) to a carpet (7) fixed to the passenger compartment floor of a vehicle; the device comprising first fastening means (8) fittable to said carpet (7), and second fastening means (9) fittable to said mat (6); and being characterized in that said first and second fastening means (8, 9) click together.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said first fastening means (8) and said second fastening means (9) are defined by parts (13; 14, 39) formed by injection of a plastic material; said parts (13; 14, 39) being so designed as to be oriented automatically on a part feeder of an assembly robot.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that two (13, 14) of said parts (13; 14, 39) have two portions (16, 17) which click together; one of said portions (16, 17) being a substantially cylindrical male member (16); and the other of said portions (16, 17) being an elastic female member (17).
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said first fastening means (8) are defined by a single part (13) having two flanges (18, 19) integral with a substantially cylindrical hub (21); said flanges (18, 19) being positioned on opposite sides of said carpet (7).
 5. A device as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that said hub (21) engages a hole (11) formed in said carpet (7); a first (18) of said flanges (18, 19) being of such a shape as to permit passage through said hole (11).
 6. A device as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that said shape is substantially circular and larger in diameter than said hole (11); said first flange (18) having a slot (22) permitting passage of the first flange through said hole (11) by means of rotation of said single part (13).
 7. A device as claimed in claim 6 , characterized in that said slot (22) is substantially sector-shaped and defined by two sides (23, 24) forming a substantially right angle; a portion (26), adjacent to a first (23) of said sides (23, 24), of said first flange (18) increasing in diameter towards said first side (23) to increase the surface of said first flange (18) contacting said carpet (7).
 8. A device as claimed in claim 7 , characterized in that the diameter of said hub (21) is substantially equal to that of said hole (11); the diameter of said first flange (18) being substantially twice that of said hole (11).
 9. A device as claimed in claim 7 , characterized in that the other side (24) of said slot (22) lies in a secant plane (27) with respect to said hub (21); said hub (21) having a flat portion (28) along said secant plane (27) to prevent said single part (13) from rotating in said hole (11).
 10. A device as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that the other (19) of said flanges (18, 19) is circular and larger in diameter than said first flange (18); said male member (16) being located on said other flange (19).
 11. A device as claimed in claim 10 , characterized in that said other flange (19) has engaging means (36) which are engaged by a tool to insert said first flange (18) through said hole (11) by means of said rotation of said single part (13).
 12. A device as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that said other flange (19) has two diametrically opposite slots (32), each having two sides (33, 34) at 90° to each other.
 13. A device as claimed in claim 12 , characterized in that said engaging means comprise two radial ribs (36), each located on one (33) of said two sides (33, 34) of said two slots (32); said ribs (36) being diametrically opposite each other.
 14. A device as claimed in claim 4 , characterized in that said second fastening means (9) comprise two parts (14, 39) having two corresponding portions (41, 42) which fit together through a hole (12) in said mat (6) so that said two parts (14, 39) are located on opposite sides of said mat (6).
 15. A device as claimed in claim 14 , characterized in that said two parts are defined by a further two substantially circular flanges (14, 39); said portions being defined by two hollow hubs (41, 42) integral with said further two flanges (14, 39).
 16. A device as claimed in claim 15 , characterized in that said hubs (41, 42) fit together in a variable axial position to adapt the distance between said further two flanges (14, 39) to the thickness of said mat (6).
 17. A device as claimed in claim 16 , characterized in that the cylindrical outer surface of a first (41) of said hubs (41, 42) has serrated axial teeth (43); the inner surface of the other (42) of said hubs (41, 42) having a single triangular-section tooth (44).
 18. A device as claimed in claim 17 , characterized in that said first hub (41) has at least one axial slot (52) defining a sector (53) of said first hub (41); said sector (53) engaging a corresponding pair of circumferential-stop members (57) carried by said other hub (42).
 19. A device as claimed in claim 18 , characterized in that said first hub (41) is carried by a first (14) of said further two flanges which is eventually positioned on the outer side of said mat (6); said female member (17) being carried, concentrically with said first hub (41), by said first (14) of said further two flanges.
 20. A device as claimed in claim 19 , characterized in that the other (42) of said hubs (41, 42) is carried by the other (39) of said further two flanges which is eventually positioned on the inner side of said mat (6); said other (39) of said further two flanges having a hole (58) for the passage of said female member (17), and having at least one opening (59) for the passage of said sector (53) of said first hub (41).
 21. A device as claimed in claim 15 , characterized in that each of said further two flanges (14, 39) comprises a flat surface for engaging a corresponding surface of said mat (6); at least one of said flat surfaces having projections (61, 62) for deforming said surface of said mat (6) and preventing any movement of said further two flanges (14, 39) along said surfaces of said mat (6). 